Economy

Will faster than expected Q2 U.S. economic growth set stage for potential Fed rate cut?

The solid growth is driven by resilient consumer spending and business investment

EU agri-food trade surplus reaches $5.43 billion in April 2024, driven by higher prices and increased exports

Exports reached €19.8 billion ($21.5 billion), mainly due to increased prices of olives and olive oil

New U.K. business growth jumps to 15-month high in July, says PMI

Job numbers at manufacturing firms were stable in July, ending a 21-month sequence of decline

Is Japan facing a profound demographic crisis as its population drops by over 500,000 in 2023?

The country’s birth rate hit a record low of 730,000 in 2023, while deaths reached a record high of 1.58 million

China’s central bank lends at lower rates for second time this week

Central bank issued $27.5 billion in one-year loans under its medium-term lending facility operation at 2.30 percent

India to invest $24 billion in job creation over next five years, $131.51 billion on long-term infrastructure projects

"India's economic growth continues to be the shining exception and will remain so in the years ahead," the minister said

Euro area government debt rises to 88.7 percent of GDP in Q1 2024

The highest ratio of government debt to GDP in the euro area was in Greece at 159.8 percent

China cuts lending rates to boost economic growth following weaker Q2 GDP data

One-year loan prime rate (LPR) declined to 3.35 percent, while the five-year LPR was reduced to 3.85 percent

Bank of England rate cut bets rise as inflation steadies at 2 percent target

The Bank of England's interest reached a 16-year high of 5.25 percent in August 2023

U.S. retail sales rise 2.3 percent in June, May data revised up 0.3 percent

Core U.S. retail sales rose 0.9 percent in June after a 0.4 percent unrevised gain in May

IMF revises up South Korea’s 2024 growth outlook to 2.5 percent, cites stable global expansion

However, the IMF has slightly lowered its 2025 growth forecast to 2.2 percent

China’s industrial output rises 5.3 percent in June, slows on weak domestic demand

Retail sales rose 2 percent in June, slowing significantly from a 3.7 percent expansion in May

France’s economy projected to grow 0.9 percent in 2024, 1.3 percent in 2025: IMF

Real GDP grew by 1.1 percent in 2023, supported by net exports, while consumption remained weak

U.S. Fed could start cutting rates this year but should remain cautious: IMF

IMF urges the U.S. government to reduce its high fiscal deficit and put debt on a downward trajectory

U.S. inflation plunges to 3 percent, fueling bets on imminent Fed rate cuts

The BLS data also showed that consumer prices fell by 0.1 percent on a monthly basis

Global wealth poised for continued growth, $83 trillion intergenerational transfer by 2040: Report

In 2023, wealth growth across the world has recovered from its 3 percent contraction the previous year

U.K. GDP grows 0.4 percent in May 2024 on greater construction, service output

Service output was the largest contributor to the U.K.'s monthly GDP growth in May 2024

Fed will take interest rate decisions ‘when and as they need to be made’: Powell

Reducing policy restraint too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment, Powell stated

Japan’s credit profile to benefit from higher interest rates, stronger inflation outlook: Fitch

Higher inflation helps lower the value of outstanding debt and pushes down Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio

U.S. small business confidence at 6-month high in June despite inflation worries

22 percent of businesses planned to increase compensation in the next three months

Japan’s base pay rises 2.5 percent in May, the fastest in 31 years

Japan's nominal wages rose 1.9 percent to $1,850, marking the highest year-on-year increase in 11 months

Japan faces shortfall of nearly one million foreign workers by 2040 to meet growth goals

5.91 million foreign workers are expected to be employed in Japan by 2040